Everyday Valentine

I am up on the Paper Camellia blog today with this layout featuring two of the sweetest seniors I know.

I snapped this quick pic of my in-laws on the little train that travels the Wildlife Sanctuary in Busch Gardens.  A quick and easy layout using the February Main Kit.  I just loved the combination of Crate Paper, and We R Memory Keepers papers in the kit.

I grabbed this freebie Silhouette Cameo cut file by Nicole Nowosad and set to work combining several of the fun elements in the kit.  Easy Peasy.  I just love working with kits, takes all the thinking out of combining all the different elements you want on a page.  Ria has such a great eye, and always offers the latest and greatest in scrappy product.  Her kits are excellent value for the price.  Hope over to the blog to see detail shots and read a little more about how this layout came together.  If you are ready to get your hands on this quality goodness month after month, hop over here to get your name on the subscription list.

Thanks for stopping by today friends.  Be sure to pop back tomorrow, I have a super exciting bit of news to share. Pin It

Playing with Serendipity & Free Cut File

It seems like forever since I've played with Dear Lizzy, but the Serendipity collection was beckoning to me with it's pastels and soft happy tones.

The colours work so well for these engagement photos of my niece and her now, husband. I can see them working well for birthdays, and other celebrations also, with all the goodies included in the ephemera package.

I used the 6x6 pad for both of my layouts.

I then pulled out my Silhouette Cameo to do most of my work for me.

  This cut was created by Jen Chapin, I used my sewing machine to attach it to my layout and create a little dimension to the cut itself.

This next layout is a simple design using mainly layered two sized circles.

I created a tag trio to use with these layouts, and thought some of you might appreciate having them in your stash also

You can get this file for FREE in the Paper Issues Shop under free files.  If you fancy a little shopping while you're there you should use my code at checkout, it will save you 20% off everything in your cart.

Hope you've been inspired to create something beautiful.

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December Moments 2014

Have you managed to complete your December Daily?  There are many people who take it on each year, and my hat's off to them.  I'll never forget the first year I tried to hop on the bandwagon and document every day of our December.  Needless to say it was a massive failure, with not enough photos, that resulted in an unfinished album.  Since then I've tried a couple of other ways to document the Christmas Season around our home, and what I've found is that daily is just not for me.  I find that choosing to simply document the month as a whole works well for our family. There are so many days, where there simply isn't a photo, that choosing to document only what I find 'document worthy' relieves some of the pressure of having that perfectly well ordered album, with numbers from 1-25.

This gorgeous Pink Paislee album, and the coordinating Merry & Bright Collection was what I chose to work with this year.  

I was drawn to the fact that the album had these really fun transparency dividers, and canvas pages, giving it a mixed media feel.

I kept my title page very simple, using one of the kraft tags (sold out) from the collection, and a few coordinating pieces from my stash.  I stitched the alphas down to ensure they would stay in place for many years to come.  If you've ever received an order from the Paper Issues store, you'll recognize that red satin ribbon in a heart beat.

For me, Christmas begins when Starbucks pulls out their holiday cups.  I, in turn pull out the few that I have gathered over the years to use at home.

I made sure to have my oldest get some photos when she joined for friend at the annual Santa Claus parade downtown.  Again, I scrapped right onto the clear page, and paired it with a pocket page.  The 4x4 size is perfect for the photos I print at home with my Canon Selphy.  The journaling is done on this sheet of coordinating patterned paper from the Merry & Bright Collection.

It all begins with one single solitary ornament.

These silver word strip phrases, go so nicely with my trusty old label maker, great for a fun journaling element.

These countdown cards from the collection, are perfect for filling pockets to use up space, and also for adding some journaling.

So many cute patterns, of course I had to create a page to showcase as many as possible.

Don't you just love that itty bitty satin bow from the collection.  I'd like a few of those in all the colours of the rainbow.  It may seem a little silly to have my birthday photo included in my December Daily, but since this is not a daily, but rather a December Moments album, documenting our month including concerts, birthdays and all, it's all good.  This album is all about not having to follow any set rules, but creating pages my family is going to enjoy looking back on.  

Just love the canvas pages.  Flair button from A Flair For Buttons 

The tags really do get addictive for documenting the event.  Flair button from A Flair For Buttons

Our friends Will & Pao came over for games and snacks on the 23rd, and we did it all over again on the 24th with my husbands sister and her kids, including one birthday boy, and a soon to be married couple.

The snowflake is a cut file by 17 Turtles and the joyful frame is an old one from Studio Calico

The "magic" & "merry&bright" cut file is another oldie from Studio Calico. 

I still cracks me up that her arms are waving so fast you can't even make them out in the photo.  It was so fun to keep this secret for several months before she was able to open her "big' gift on Christmas morning.

That quote is a screenshot I captured off of Andrea Howey's IG feed, that girl has some serious talent. 

I thought it was a pretty clever play on words to use the last of the black glitter words on this journal card.

The best part of doing a December Moments album as opposed to simply a Christmas album is that you get to end on New Years Eve, a wonderful way to bid farewell to the old and hello to the new.  Incorporating a little gold from the Dear Lizzy Serendipity collection seemed like the perfect touch for the celebration.

And there you have it, another year in the books.  This is the first time I feel incredibly proud of each and every page of my December Memories album, and it all started with the gorgeous Pink Paislee products.  It's amazing how much creativity can be birthed by gorgeous product to get the senses overflowing.

If you're still working on your December album, and looking for a few more goodies to complete the job, hop over to the Paper Issues shop to get your hands on what's left of our Christmas goodies.  Use code: SHERRI at check out and save 20% off everything you placed in your cart.

Happy shopping friends,and all the best with wrapping up your Christmas memories. Thanks so much for stopping by today! Pin It

Triangle Love With Bella Rouge

The Bella Rouge Collection has got to me one of my favourite most recent collections. The colour combo and patterns are perfect for all my girlie photos, but I can see the black that's mixed in offering excellent options for more male themed layouts also.  I was excited to to combine several of the patterned papers with the Rad Triangles free cut file created by fellow DT member Jen Chapin.

You can grab the FREE Rad Triangles Cut file here in the Paper Issues shop.

The die cut ephemera packs have become my new favourite embellishments.  Such great value for your dollar with over 80 pieces in a package, and so much variety with both cardstock and acetate designs included.

I am thinking that it's time to put together a mini album documenting my baby girls emergency surgery a couple of months ago, and this collection should be the perfect for it.  The circumstances may have been scary and emotional, but the bright cheery colours of this collection will help to highlight all the positive that came out of the whole drama filled week.

Speaking of the happy collections of Pink Paislee have yu seen that they are having a DT call?  I've gathered my courage and finally applied.  Every year when the call comes around I chicken out of actually submitting my application.  Well this year that all changed.  Would love for some scrappy friends to join me in the nerve wracking process of putting it all on the line and waiting the long torturous wait :)  Good luck to all those who apply.

You can still get your hands on much of this collection in the Paper Issues shop.  Use my code at checkout and save yourself 20% off everything in your cart.

Thanks for stopping in today friends, have a wonderful weekend! Pin It

17 Turtles Guest Designer

Today I have the privilege of guesting for my sweet friend Juliana Michaels over on the 17 Turtles Blog.

I had the opportunity to work with some fun Christmas cut files, she recently designed. Here are the layouts I created.

I just love that holly cut from the Merry, Merry collection.

The Christmas Cheer & Winter Wishes Cut File have these great 2x2 size polaroid frames that were perfect to use on this multiple photo collage depicting what the start of the Christmas season looks like around our home.

With so many different designs in one package, these cut files are a great deal.  You can get your hands on the Christmas Cheer & Winter Wishes cut file here in the 17 Turtles Etsy shop.  The Merry, Merry cut file can be found here.

This was a real treat, I want to thank Juliana so much for having me.  For more close up shots and, more inspiration, and even a few freebies, head over and check out the 17 Turtles Blog.  You can snag these, and the rest of her fabulous cut files right here in the 17 Turtles Etsy shop.

Thank you so much for stopping by today friends! Pin It

Paper Issues Sketch Saturday

Did you know that Paper Issues not only has bi-weekly scrappy issues to join in on, but there are now also sketch, and die cut issues also.  Jen Chapin has some great designs, they always catch my eye, and are very easy to play along with.  When I saw her post this one I knew I had to finally jump in.

This seven year old photo of the girls popped up in my Timehop feed recently, and I feel in love with them all over again.  I loved this age.  I remember it so well.  The youngest two, albeit cute as dolls use to fight like crazy, every single day.  And Belle, my sweet first born was such a little mama always ready to lend a hand and try to be the peace-maker between her sisters.  I just had to scrap it, and the sketch proved the perfect opportunity.

I grabbed a few sheets of patterned paper from my stash and got to work.  

Here is Jen's original sketch:

The circles beckoned to be made into a cut file, so I did just that. I backed the centers and used my sewing maching to add a little detail to each of them.

I pulled out my old Recollections heart punch, layered a coupled together, and once again used my sewing maching to adhere them to my page.

Would you like to try your hand at this sketch?  We'd love to see what you create. And if you'd like to use the cut file I created you can grab it right here in the Paper Issues shop, at no charge.

If you decide to do a little shopping while you're there, enter my code at checkout to save yourself 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

It's a Hop!

Welcome to the A Flair For Buttons/The Cut Shoppe blog hop.  We are so glad you are joining us in gathering some fun inspo using two of my favourite scrapbook go tos, flair buttons and cut files. Both Ashley and Shelley create fun and easy to incorporate designs.

I loved this Cross My Heart background cut file the first time I saw it in The Cut Shoppe Etsy store.  I had this photo of my two guys waiting to be scrapped, and this worked perfectly.  I was itching to create a black and white layout too.  I had picked up these paper from my local LSS a while back so it felt good to pull them out and finally put them to use.

 Needless to say our Toy Poodle is more of a toy than a canine in our home :)

 Ashley created some super fun flair that worked great with my chosen colour scheme and design.

I think I will always be a sucker for camera, and heart flair, and this sweet button has both those elements.

For my 2nd layout I really wanted to use this photo my oldest daughter got of my youngest daughter and I.  it was somewhat of a candid as she was just testing out the settings of the camera before the guest of honor arrived at the wedding shower we were helping to put on last weekend.  The soft, feminine tones of the Girl Flair, and the Freeze Frame cute file were a perfect match.

I really can't believe how quickly my girls are growing up.  This one looks more like 13 than she does 11.  I've learned that "they" were right all along, it really does go much too fast.

Now for the fun stuff:
1. Just for hopping along with us today Shelley at {aflairforbuttons}is offering 10% off all orders with coupon code:BLOGHOP2014.  In addition to those savings Ashley at The Cut Shoppe is offering 25% off her cut files with coupon code: SAVE25 (both discounts valid between November 21-28).

2. Leave a comment on my blog post and/or any/all blogs posts in the hop and you could win the awesome black and white flair set created by Ashley Horton.

3. Leaving a comment will also put you in the running to win at $15 gift certificate to The Cut Shoppe.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE BLOG ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH.

You can see more {aflairforbuttons} designs here.   You'll find all of Ashley's cut files in her Etsy shop here.

There is more inspiration waiting for you along the hop, here is the list:

Els Brige

Amy Coose

Diane Payne

Gina Lideros

Sherri Funk <<< you are here

Allie Stewart

Mary Ann Maldonado

Stephanie Strader

Katrina Hunt

Missy Whidden

Daniela Dobson

The Cut Shoppe

A Flair for Buttons

Thanks for hopping along, good luck and happy shopping!

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The Scholarship

I've been wanting to scrap this photo since the day she received her scholarship.  Happy to be sharing the story and the layout with you today.

Our Théa had a wonderful Dance year in 2014.  Competition was once again a joy to attend, watching her "do her thing".  This year she was fortunate enough to win a scholarship for her Hip Hop Solo.  It was pretty fun listening to the adjudicator offer her his feedback.  He was practically gushing over her waves, he had so many wonderful things to say about her solo, my heart was bursting with pride listening to him recognize my girl's talent.  This photo was taken the evening of the Gala awards and show.  The show is filled with numbers from throughout the three week competition, all of which were top marks recipients, or adjudicator's choice.  Each scholarship has 3 recipients, but only 1 of of those are asked to perform in the Gala evening.  Théa was the lucky one chosen in her category.  She looked amazing and performed her solo perfectly.  It was a great way to end the competitive season for all of us.

Isn't that background paper awesome?  Especially for those, who like me, love the distressed look, but have never really gotten the hang of achieving it on our own.

I was a little surprised at the size of the burlap bows when they arrived.  I thought, somehow, that they would be smaller.  It just required a little "thinking out of the box" to figure out how to fit it into my design.  A simple 3/4" glue dot is all that I needed to tack it down to the page.

If you haven't yet, you can still get yourself some Burlap & Bouquets goodies here in the Paper Issues shop.  Use code:SHERRI and save yourself 20% off whatever you choose to order.

Thanks, as always for stopping by, have a great day friends!

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